UN expert urges acceleration of Liberia rights efforts News
UN expert urges acceleration of Liberia rights efforts

[JURIST] UN Independent Expert on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Liberia Charlotte Abaka, recently returned from an 11-day visit to that country, has called on the Liberian government to press ahead with its Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) [UN Mission in Liberia news release, PDF] and appoint members to its Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR). The TRC was publicly launched five months ago [JURIST report] to investigate and document human rights abuses occurring in Liberia from 1979 to 2003, but is not yet fully operational. The INCHR lacks a staff three years after its inclusion in the peace deal [BBC report] that ended Liberia's civil war. She said she was "very concerned" with the situation.

The TRC began its work in June after its inauguration [JURIST report] in February, but has already been criticized by human rights groups [JURIST report] who instead advocate a Liberian human rights court because the TRC cannot prosecute war crimes violations.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.